UNDER SIEGE

07.25.12

Syrian Soldiers Head to Aleppo

Bulent Kilic, AFP / Getty Images

Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city, is the setting of intense fighting this week, as thousands of Syrian soldiers are being taken off their Turkey border posts to join the battle against rebels in Aleppo. President Bashar al-Assad’s forces have avoided a rebel takeover of Damascus by diverting the violence to Aleppo, the first time fighting has hit either major city since turmoil began to stir in the country more than a year ago. Military helicopters have been reportedly bombing some parts of Damascus, despite the government apparently retaking control of the capitol. The government is even deploying fighter jets over Aleppo, Syria’s commercial center, for the first time since antiregime violence began.